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Condo conversions aren't hurting Hamilton renters yet, the city says. But it needs to keep an eye on it.

Hamilton’s recent plethora of condo conversions isn’t boosting rent prices or putting a pinch on apartment availability. But the city should keep an eye on it.

That’s the gist of a staff report coming to the city’s emergency and community services committee Monday afternoon.

Rents aren’t higher, and there are still plenty of apartments out there despite nearly 2,000 units being converted to condominiums in the last decade. But it’s important that the market stays that way, said Dave Brodati, manager of investment in affordable housing.

“Average rents in Hamilton have remained relatively affordable,” he said. “Obviously for people with very low incomes, they’re not affordable. But there hasn’t been a very high inflationary impact as a result of condominium conversions.”

The report stemmed from a request by Coun. Terry Whitehead of Ward 8, who worried that condo conversions are putting a pinch on the rental market. He also worries that better rental stock is becoming condos, leaving lower-quality units for renters.